We use Flip cams to create movies with a green screen. The HD Flips work well enough to get a pretty decent picture to work with. We've done news reports on endangered animals/math videos/and reading videos.

They can be found on my classroom blog at http://mravery.edublogs.org in the video section. I have videos showing the finished product as well as behind the scenes so they can be seen being used.

[quote]We use Flip cams to create movies with a green screen. The HD Flips work well enough to get a pretty decent picture to work with. We've done news reports on endangered animals/math videos/and reading videos.

They can be found on my classroom blog at http://mravery.edublogs.orgin the video section. I have videos showing the finished product as well as behind the scenes so they can be seen being used.[/quote][quote]We use Flip cams to create movies with a green screen. The HD Flips work well enough to get a pretty decent picture to work with. We've done news reports on endangered animals/math videos/and reading videos.

They can be found on my classroom blog at http://mravery.edublogs.orgin the video section. I have videos showing the finished product as well as behind the scenes so they can be seen being used.[/quote]

Shawn,

I absolutely love your classroom blog! Thanks for sharing it. I have a question about green screens. Do you need special software to create your backgrounds and images? I'm new to this and any input is greatly appreciated!

We read The Odyssey as a 6th grade class last year. Throughout the book the students created a booklet of chapter summaries. At the end of the book the students took their chapter summaries and created a list of important events. Then we seperated into groups and each group took some of the events and decided who the characters would be and what props they needed. We then took flip cams and shot The Odyssey at our school. Since there were different students playing the smae character we had consistent accessories throughout the movie. Then we took time at the computer lab - I taught basic functions of Windows Movie Maker - and the students each created their own rendition of The Odyssey. The students loved it - they got to experience sequencing/editing videos/characters/... there were so many skills at work throughout the process.

For more info about technology to use in the classroom check out: tech4teacher.wordpress.com

Thanks for sharing your project w/flip cams! Wow, I have so much to learn and it helps when teachers like yourself share these creative projects. I have also spread the word on your blog through the Twitterverse. Expect to get some hits/responses soon!

I had my students in groups of four to make a short video with their flip cameras for contractions. They made signs showing the two words that made up the contraction and another sign to show the contraction. One student filmed while the other three demonstrated the contraction. First the students read the two words, then the third student jumped up behind them holding the contraction sign and read the contraction. I linked the separate movies together into a class film on contractions. They loved it and searched out more contractions they could film.

I have also had the kids in small groups to film idioms. They choose an idiom and find out what it really means. Then they gather simple props to use in their movie. They read their idiom while they film the literal meaning of the idiom (i.e.-don't put all your eggs in one basket), and then tell what the idiom really means. I link the videos together for a class video on idioms.

I love all the ideas!
I do a simple machines unit after Christmas break concluding with students creating leprechaun traps using at least 3 different simple machines. Next year I am hoping to have students video how the machines work using a flip cam and then posting the videos to a classroom blog or wiki.

I find flip cams really easy to use. I am a special education teacher and need to help provide for my students transition from grade to grade and school to school. I have found the flip cam to be a wonderful tool! With the younger kids...I do the filming and include the students in some of the footage. With some of my upper elementary students...they do their own filming. It is awesome!

I'm impressed. I'd never thought of using flip cams - my idea had always been, if you're going to use the cameras, why not use a real video camera? To be honest, they didn't seem worth the trouble, and the savings didn't seem to be great, either.

I might have to change my mind - there are some great suggestions here. I particularly liked the idea of recording a message for parents at parent teacher night.

I use flip cameras in my social studies and Language Arts classes- Kids research a topic or consider a cerain aspect of a reading, then design a presentation and film it. Before this, they spend time considering and applying the Listening and Speaking, Comon Core Standards- students must consider what videotographers do to help an audience construct meaning before applying that to their own work.
Having the presentations on film also allows students to preview their work with the audience in mind and then edit it or reshoot it as needed. Finally, video allows for flexibitly in viewing(absent students, wasted time assembling props...).